Tour du Mont Blanc

A classic walk through France, Italy & Switzerland

The memories of a walk on the Tour du Mont Blanc will stay with you forever! The Tour du Mont Blanc trek is demanding – climbing six passes, traversing around huge glaciers and hiking through spectacular alpine scenery – but incredibly rewarding. The Tour du Mont Blanc is a classic walking adventure and is justly famous as one of the world’s best Alpine treks; every step of the way offers jaw-dropping scenery with many points of interest along the way.

Every single step offers incredible mountain scenery: unfolding panoramas of glaciers and jagged peaks, meadows with alpine cows and wildflowers, ibex, friendly marmots, verdant forest, and refuges perched spectacularly on mountain passes.

Tour du Mont Blanc

THE RAW TRAVEL DIFFERENCE

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AUTHENTIC ACCOMMODATION

No dormitories here. Our Alps trips use a mixture of small hotels and refuges with private rooms so you can come back to a comfortable room each night and get a good night's sleep - an essential component for your enjoyment where you are working hard on the trails each day.

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INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN LEADERS

We have our own staff of experienced and qualified International Mountain leaders. Not only do they know the trek routes exceptionally well but they will excel in looking after you; your safety is our priority in an alpine environment. All our guides are native English speakers, so clear communication is never an issue.

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LUGGAGE DELIVERY & FOOD EXTRAS

We have private luggage transfer service to take charge of the luggage delivery each day , no mules here. We supplement the food provided by the refuges with fresh food items brought in by our driver for your breakfast, lunch and snacks. In our experience, a well-fed walker is a happy walker.

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LOCAL SUPPORT, LOCAL INSIGHTS

Some of our team live in Chamonix year-round and know the area intimately, so they can offer you the best of the variants to the main route and inform you about the unmissable local attractions.

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Tour du Mont Blanc

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8 Days

Tour du Mont Blanc

The Highlights Trip – Tour du Mont Blanc

Guided Strenuous
  • A condensed version of Europe’s classic mountain hike
  • Fully supported by our expert mountain guide
  • Jaw-dropping alpine scenery and friendly wildlife encounters
  • Culinary specialities and fascinating history
from

$3,490.00

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13 Days

Tour du Mont Blanc

The Mont Blanc Circuit – Tour du Mont Blanc

Guided Strenuous
  • Europe’s most classic mountain walk
  • Experience spectacular Alpine scenery
  • Walk with an experienced English speaking guide
  • Trek through three countries: France, Italy and Switzerland
from

$5,250.00

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13 Days

Tour du Mont Blanc

The Self-Guided Trip – Tour du Mont Blanc

Self-Guided Strenuous
  • Trek through France, Italy & Switzerland
  • Culinary specialities from each country
  • Experience spectacular towering mountain scenery
  • This self-guided hike is for a private group of 4+ people
from

$4,090.00

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Locations on Tour du Mont Blanc

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Chamonix

This town is dominated by the mighty Mont Blanc massif with tumbling glaciers visible from the main street. There are many attractions including the Aguille Du Midi cablecar with its stupendous views and restaurant, the glacier express railway, and whitewater rafting right in the town. Plus Europe’s best selection of outdoor gear shops along its attractive streets.

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Les Houches

A small town situated at 1000m of altitude and lying at the foot of Mont-Blanc (4810m), Les Houches offers an exceptional panorama of the peaks surrounding Chamonix. The village itself boasts charming chalets, hotels and restaurants where you can savour delicious Savoyard cuisine including fondue, raclette and and hearty mountain dishes.

Les Contamines

This small picturesque village has a beautiful Baroque church in the nearby wooded valley and a Roman Bridge on the TMB Trail which leads to the Col du Bon Homme. It is surrounded by stunning natural beauty, including snow-capped peaks, lush forests, and alpine meadows. It offers breathtaking views of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps.

Les Chapieux

Les Chapieux is an idyllic hamlet and one of the last stops in France before you cross to Italy. Situated at an altitude of about 1,550m, it serves as a gateway to the stunning Mont Blanc Massif and the Tarentaise Valley. The village exudes tranquility and offers a glimpse into traditional alpine life with its charming wooden chalets and breathtaking alpine vistas.

Col de la Seigne

This pass (2516m) straddles the border between France and Italy connecting the Italian Valle d’Aosta region with France’s Savoie region. If offers awe-inspiring panoramic vistas of the Mont Blanc Massif, including the imposing Mont Blanc itself, and the long valley descent to Courmayeur. The breathtaking alpine landscape, with rugged peaks, pristine glaciers, and alpine meadows stretches as far as the eye can see.

Courmayeur

This charming Italian ski town is nestled in the heart of the Aosta Valley at the foot of Mont Blanc. It provides a welcome taste of civilisation at the midway point of the trek. Courmayeur has a vibrant culinary scene, offering delicious Italian cuisine, including regional specialties like hearty pasta dishes and delectable cheeses.

Rifugio Bonatti

Named after renowned Italian mountaineer Walter Bonatti, this mountain hut is situated in a truly spectacular setting, perched at an elevation of approximately 2,025m above sea level in the heart of the Mont Blanc Massif. The welcoming hosts ensure a warm and friendly atmosphere for guests.

 

 

 

La Fouly

Your first stop in Switzerland lives up to the hype! The picture-perfect scenery of the Val Ferret is hard to overstate. La Fouly sits at the head of a verdant forested valley, populated by small hamlets of old Swiss wooden chalets. It is one of the most enjoyable sections of the Tour du Mont Blanc.

Champex

The charming village of Champex is ocated in the French-speaking Swiss canton of Valais and one of our overnight stops on the TMB. The village lies at 1,470m on the shore of Lac de Champex, at the foot of the Mont Blanc Massif. It is a starting point for many hikes into the surrounding mountains and huts.

Trient

Trient is a small village in the district of Martigny in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It is the last stop in Switzerland before heading over the Col de Balme back into France. The village has retained much of its historical charm. Its traditional wooden chalets, many of which date back centuries, showcase the region’s architectural heritage.

Argentière

Laidback Argentière, at the foot of the impressive Argentière Glacier, is surrounded by majestic peaks, including the iconic Aiguille Verte. In summer it’s a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts, attracting hikers, mountain bikers and rockclimbers.

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Our comprehensive Destination Guide is bursting with inspiration, travel essentials, background information and more! Essential reading to help you plan, prepare and enjoy a memorable trip in the Alps.

 

Tour du Mont Blanc

Get to know Mont Blanc

WHEN TO TREK THE TOUR DU MONT BLANC?

The trekking season is June to September. Outside of these times the passes are most often blocked with snow and it is not recommended for people not experienced with Alpine walking and snow conditions, plus many of the refuges will be closed. June can still be quite cool and it is not unusual for snow to be on the passes in mid-June but generally speaking during this period you can expect 20–30°C at lower altitudes and at night temperatures can fall below 10°C. Summertime offers safe and enjoyable walking with the maximum options for sleeping. June can still be quite cool and it is not unusual for snow to be on the passes in mid-June but generally speaking during this period you can expect 20–30°C at lower altitudes and at night temperatures can fall below 10°C.

What is the terrain and altitude like?

The Tour du Mont Blanc is a high-altitude trail around the entire Mont Blanc massif. The terrain is mountainous, rocky and often rough underfoot, but there are also plenty of graded paths. There are sometimes long steady ascents and descents, and the odd steep climb, as well as pass crossings.

How Difficult is the Tour du Mont Blanc?

We have graded each RAW Travel trip from 1 (introductory) to 10 (tough). We have graded the Tour du Mont Blanc Trek as Strenuous (7). All our guided treks are led by experienced and passionate International Mountain Leaders who have an intimate knowledge of the region. They take safety very seriously so you know you will be in good hands.

Where do you start when hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc?

The starting point is Chamonix (France). This charming Alpine town is dominated by the mighty Mont Blanc massif with tumbling glaciers visible from the main street. There are many attractions including the Aguille Du Midi cablecar with its stupendous views and restaurant, the glacier express railway, and whitewater rafting right in the town. Plus Europe’s best selection of outdoor gear shops along its attractive streets.

How long does it take to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc Trek?

For the full guided circuit trek allow 13 days in total: 10 days of walking, plus a rest day and arrival and departure days. Daily distances range from 12–20km with a total distance of 170km. Our 8-day Highlights trip is a condensed version of the full circuit trek. We use vehicle transfers along some of the valley sections but still take in all the passes and highlights of the full circuit.

What are the highlights of hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc Trek?

Rated as one of the top 5 mountain treks in the world, the Tour du Mont Blanc is one of Europe’s finest. This world-famous route circles the highest mountain in Western Europe, crossing from France into Italy and Switzerland. It offers all the excitement of a high mountain trek, with few of the worries. No technical mountaineering skills are required. You’ll get to appreciate different cultures, food and people while trekking through glorious Alpine scenery.

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Custom trips

Private groups

If you have a group of friends or family you can request one of these trips as your own private departure. Consider a customised trip, individually tailored to your ideal walking distances and timeframes. Have a look at our tailor-made trips page on the link below and drop us a line:

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